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A judge temporarily halted a just-approved state constitutional amendment that would yank the license of doctors who commit three acts of medical malpractice, saying that some specifics need to be spelled out before it takes effect.

Circuit Judge Janet E. Ferris agreed in part with hospitals that sued seeking to block the amendment from taking effect until some aspects of it can be clarified, most likely by the Legislature when it meets in the spring, or by the courts.

Ferris barred Amendment 8 from going into effect while she considers the arguments of the hospitals and the state, which is charged with enforcing the measure, and a group called Floridians for Patient Protection, which pushed to get the issue on the ballot.

The amendment, known informally as the "three strikes for bad doctors" measure, was approved by 70 percent of voters earlier this month.

Bill Bell is General Counsel for the Florida Hospital Association, who argued in Court for the temporary Injunction. (roll tape#1 o.q.Ã¢â¬?in that areaÃ¢â¬?)

(roll tape#2 o.q.Ã¢â¬?to be implementedÃ¢â¬?)

Judge Ferris noted the 70% support the measure garnered at the polls, and said her injunction would expire at the end of the upcoming legislative session in the spring. WMNF attempted to hear from the side supporting Amendment 8, Floridians for Patient Protection, but did not hear back from by airtime.